Winnebago hoping to be better in 2015

Team: Winnebago

Mascot: Indians

Colors: Blue and White

Class: D-1

Head Coach: Adam James (8th season)

2014 record: 1-7

Returning Starters: 3 offense 3 defense


Overview:

The Winnebago Indians hope to find success on the gridiron this year after giving it their all during last year's 1-7 campaign.

Winnebago was competitive at times last year, and must replace five starters on each side of the ball.

The Indians will feature juniors Drake Gorrin (6'0, 165) and Miguel Baker (5'11, 170) at the running back position while senior Kadge Thomas (5'11, 165) and junior Cedrick Blackdeer (6'0, 150) are competing for the starting quarterback spot.

Seniors Airic Brown (6'2, 260) and Vincent Bass (6'3, 250) return on the offensive line.

Brown and Bass will also play defensive line again this season for Winnebago while Gorrin is a returning starter in the secondary. Thomas and Blackdeer figure to provide Gorrin with help in the defensive backfield.

Baker is expected to see time at linebacker for the Indians.

I think Winnebago has a chance to be better this year than they were last year. The Indians don't return a whole lot, but the players they do return appear to be solid.

I look for Brown and Bass to dominate on the offensive line, setting up the run game for the running backs and quarterback.

The biggest question mark on offense for Winnebago could be wide receiver and tight end. What kind of passing game will the Indians have? That could go a long ways in determining what kind of success Winnebago has this season.

The Indians should be a solid ground team, but their passing game is a question mark for me. It's hard telling how successful Winnebago will be throwing the ball.

The Indians should be solid at stopping the run and pass. The linebacker position could be a question mark for Winnebago, but the front and back ends of their defense should help make up for what they may lack at the linebacker position.

I think the Indians have a chance to be 3-5 or perhaps 4-4 this season.

I definitely see Winnebago being a better team than they were a year ago.

The schedule certainly isn't the easiest, but there are some winnable games for the Indians.

Winnebago has to believe in themselves and in one another. Football isn't just physical, it's mental as well. The Indians have to play with a positive and winning attitude throughout the season. This school had success in boys basketball, winning the state championship last year, so success in football is certainly possible this season.

It would be a big deal for Winnebago to make the playoffs. The Indians are definitely capable of making the postseason, they just have to maximize their potential.

Winnebago has to be confident in their abilities this season. And if they are, anything is possible with this team.


Season Outlook:

Winnebago has to believe they have a chance at having a better season than they did a year ago.

Five of the Indians' first six games are very winnable as Winnebago takes on Cedar Bluffs, Wakefield, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Pender, and Omaha Nation in five of their first six games.

It may be asking a lot from the Indians to beat Hartington-Newcastle, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, or Scribner-Snyder, but upsets can happen on any given day or night.

Winnebago has to play optimistic football this season. The Indians have to play with confidence and swagger.

Winnebago can't be cocky, but the Indians have to do whatever they can to try and gain a mental edge in games.

I'm not suggesting trash talking, but Winnebago has to be fired up at all times. The Indians have to get excited about big plays, and allow one big play to lead to another.

At the same time, Winnebago has to prevent big plays, and even if and when the Indians give up big plays, they can't dwell on them.

Winnebago has to let negative plays go, and move on to the next play.

The Indians have to simply learn how to win. The boys basketball team figured out a recipe for success last season, and that's exactly what this year's football team has to do.

It will be interesting to see if having success in boys basketball translates to success on the gridiron. It may or it may not, but no matter what happens these kids have to continue to fight hard throughout the season.

Winnebago has to be physical at the line of scrimmage, and force teams to get creative on offense and defense.

The more looks the Indians can give teams on defense, the more successful they will be.

Defense will be critical for Winnebago this year. The Indians gave up quite a few points last year, and if the Indians want to be in more football games this season, they have to get more stops.

The offense also needs to step things up. Winnebago showed flashes of greatness on offense last year, but just wasn't consistent enough. The Indians have to become more consistent on offense.

If Winnebago improves a lot on both sides of the ball this season, the Indians should give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.


2015 Winnebago Indians Football Schedule:

09/04/15	@ Cedar Bluffs	D1
09/11/15	Wakefield	D1
09/18/15	@ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family	D1
09/24/15	@ Pender	D1
10/02/15	Hartington-Newcastle	D1
10/09/15	Omaha Nation	D1
10/16/15	@ Guardian Angels Central Catholic	D1
10/23/15	Scribner-Snyder	D1